4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Special Meeting  
CITY COMMISSIONERS  
Alice White, Mayor  
Phil Stokes, Vice Mayor  
Pete Emrich, Commissioner  
Barbara Langdon, Commissioner  
Debbie McDowell, Commissioner  
APPOINTED OFFICIALS  
Jerome Fletcher, City Manager  
Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney  
Heather Faust, City Clerk  
Wednesday, September 25, 2024  
5:01 PM  
City Commission Chambers  
Budget  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m.  
ROLL CALL  
5 -  
Present:  
Commissioner Pete Emrich, Commissioner Debbie McDowell, Mayor Alice White,  
Vice Mayor Philip Stokes and Commissioner Barbara Langdon  
Also Present:  
Also present are: City Manager Fletcher, Assistant City Attorney Roberts, City Clerk  
Faust, Police Chief Garrison, and Deputy Fire Chief Herlihy  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Budget Administrator Lisa Herrmann.  
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mayor White requested a motion to approve the agenda.  
motion was made by Commissioner Emrich, seconded by Commissioner  
A
Langdon, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
2. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Valdy Olender: Expressed opposition to the budget.  
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS:  
ORDINANCE - SECOND READINGS:  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Adopting the Ad Valorem  
Millage Rate and Rolled-Back Rate for the Fiscal Year Beginning October  
1, 2024 and Ending September 30, 2025; Providing for Findings:  
Providing for Conflicts: Providing for Severability; and Providing an  
Effective Date.  
Mayor White announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title and  
Sections 2.01 and 2.02.  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title and Sections 2.01 and 2.02.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item and read the justification for increase.  
There were no Commission questions or discussion.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A motion was made by Vice Mayor Stokes, seconded by Commissioner Langdon,  
to adopt Ordinance No 2024-30 as presented. The motion carried on the following  
vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Adopting the Non-District  
Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2024 and Ending  
September 30, 2025; Adopting the Capital Improvement Budget and  
Program; Prescribing the Terms, Conditions and Provisions with Respect  
to the Items of Appropriations and their Payment; Providing for  
Supplemental  
Appropriations  
and  
Reappropriations;  
Providing  
for  
Findings: Providing for Posting of the Budgets: Providing for Conflicts;  
Providing for Severability; and Providing an Effective Date.  
Mayor White announced the item and called on the City Clerk to read by title only.  
Ms. Faust read the Ordinance by title only.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding millage rate and budget  
increases within the City.  
There was no public comment.  
Mayor White closed the public hearing and requested a motion.  
A
motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Commissioner  
Emrich, to adopt Ordinance No 2024-31 as presented. The motion carried on the  
following vote with Commissioner McDowell dissenting due to increase of fees and  
reallocation of funds:  
4 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Emrich, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes and Commissioner  
Langdon  
1 - Commissioner McDowell  
No:  
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
5. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 5:14 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Alice White, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk